DEREK’S POV:As I swung into the back seat of the convoy, the engine hissed like a beast under the hood. There was already Annalise sitting in the centre with a cigarette hanging between her fingers and her knees crossed. The leather and metal of the armoured vehicle blended with the strong tobacco odour that permeated the inside. Her piercing emerald eyes showed no emotion as she cocked her head slightly, silently accepting my arrival.After a beat, she murmured, "Help yourself," pointing to the little bar embedded at the rear of the exotic car located across from me in a low, nearly humming voice. In the dimly lit space, a variety of spirits bottles gleamed, but my attention was drawn to the crystal decanter she was holding. She was already filling two glasses with something strong and dark.For a moment, I pondered whether it was prudent to drink at this time. Vera was on the line, King Sylvester was breathing down my neck, and every minute that went by only made me feel more and m
The gentle hum of the convoy's engine filled the quiet between Annalise and me as we rode the remainder of the trip. My pulse pounded in my ears, and my hands were still shaking from whatever cocktail she had given me. Sylvester, Vera, and the twisted woodland were all too real and visceral in the hallucination I had just had. I looked to see what she was thinking, but Annalise's eyes were locked on the road ahead, and her demeanour was as unreadable as ever.The convoy soon slowed, and I sensed the car veer slightly off the main road. Outside, the desolate horizon gave way to towering, imposing buildings, their neon lights glimmering in the darkness like beacons. The caravan arrived at a sleek, low-slung structure that appeared to be a club. The pulse of lights flashed sporadically, creating shadows that danced in the darkness like wraiths, as music throbbed softly through the walls.With ease, Annalise glided out as the door opened. Even though the fog in my head had mostly gone, I
DEREK'S POV:My body felt heavy and my muscles ached like I had been dragged through hell when I woke up, confused. My mouth felt as dry as a desert, and my head ached. I looked about, blinking against the faint light coming through heavy curtains. It was a hotel room with cream walls and soft carpets, yet the air had a slight scent and cigarette odour. When I sat up and saw that I was only wearing my boxers, my bewilderment turned to fear.Pushing my way through the club, attempting to get away from the suffocating commotion, the flashing lights, and the tightening embrace of bodies, was the last thing I remembered. Then again, nothing. An empty canvas.I noticed a shadow move close to the window. There stood Annalise, silhouetted against the dim light of the metropolis outside. With a cigarette dangling from her lips and a camera in one hand that flashed menacingly in the low light, she was leaning nonchalantly.I made an effort to collect my thoughts, but the mental haze would not
As though the weight of the world didn't bother him, Ryan Myers entered the room with a chilly, uninterested expression. I kept a careful eye on him, attempting to hide the rage seething in me. He was a few steps from me, and in the dim light of the room, his towering figure was a shadow. He fixed his emotionless gaze on mine."Derek," he uttered, his tone steady but threatening. "Queen Annalise should be avoided. You'll escape any... unpleasant repercussions if you follow instructions.”I said nothing at all and continued to stare at him intently, searching for any hints. The air was different today, even though Ryan had always been one of the more erratic ones. It wasn't your typical bluster. No, it seemed like a far darker event was about to happen.He stepped forward, and I smelt his aroma, a subtle blend of iron and leather. He had no intention of negotiating. He had an ultimatum to deliver."Insubordination is not tolerated by the Luna," he continued, maintaining his cold tone.
DEREK'S POV:With a snarl that echoed around the room, Bowlser sprang out of the shadows. He looked horrific, a hideous hybrid of beast and man. His enormous frame seemed to throb with unadulterated, animalistic strength, and he was at least eight feet tall. His muscles bulged and rippled with each movement, and his skin was a mottled grey. There was a wicked thirst burning in his red-glowing eyes. Sharp fangs glinted in the low light, and clawed claws flexed as if ready to tear flesh.My entire body tensed in anticipation as I tightened my fists. My blood was getting hotter, and I could feel the adrenaline rushing through my veins. As Bowlser stepped closer, his heavy feet making the floor tremble, the room around us seemed to contract, the walls pressing in. I heard nothing but the thunderous pounding of my own heartbeat for a while, and then he suddenly charged.For something so big, his speed was astounding. In a matter of seconds, he was on me, swinging his huge arm in my directi
I woke up with a nagging discomfort that spread across my entire body and the acute sting of an IV in my arm. The sick bay smelt of antiseptic mixed with something metallic, and the chamber was cold and sterile. I tried to concentrate on the ceiling, but my vision became blurry. Eventually, the fight, the pandemonium, and the pain all returned to me. A nurse was adjusting something on the IV stand while the middle-aged, graying-haired doctor fussed over the machines.I attempted to move, but the tubing—no, the restraints—held me in place, and my arms felt like lead. I wanted to talk, but it took a minute to get any sound out of my throat, which felt like sandpaper."Where am I?"The doctor gave me a quick look before turning back to the screen of the electrocardiogram that bleeped incessantly. “Derek, you're in the sick bay at the castle. You were severely beaten.I blinked many times in an attempt to clear my mind of the haze. "What happened?"With a gentle tone, the nurse remarked,
VERA’S POV:I gazed out at the wide undulating hills beyond the castle walls through the high slots in my cell. The grey tint of the sky, which mirrored the weight in my chest, served as a continual reminder of my captivity. Days had passed since the fight, since Sylvester had lashed out at me and called me a traitor, and I had been left to ruminate.I thought of ways to get out, but suddenly there was just doubt. My musings were cut short by a crisp, authoritative knock. Before I could react, the door sprang open, and two guards entered, their expressions expressionless and nearly impersonal."King Sylvester has called for you," one of them replied in an emotionless tone.Despite my refusal to display fear, I could feel the blood draining from my face. I nodded and straightened my shoulders as I followed them through the castle's chilly stone hallways. Each stride reverberated, a hollow sound reflecting the void I experienced inside. What on earth could Sylvester want now? His intent
I observed the shadows created by the dim light flickering along the stone walls. Even though I still had scrapes and bruises from the fight, the pain got better every day, and I started to feel stronger than I had anticipated. I could feel it swelling inside of me, coiling like a snake waiting to strike, but at first it was gradual, like a trickle. It was this increasing intensity that kept me up at night. My body was recuperating more quickly than it should have, with flesh repairing and bones knitting.It was more than simply the physical recovery, though. There was another stirring, something primordial, something perilous.I listened to the distant echo of footsteps while lying on the bed and gazing up at the ceiling. There was a lot of noise in the castle, including whispering and power plays. Vera, like myself, was stranded somewhere in the middle of it all. With every thought of her, the veins in my arms throbbed, and I tightened my fists. I needed to reach her.The door opene